Pipe machine



1970 R, J, ANTHQNY ETAL 3,517,424

June 30,

PIPE MACHINE Filed Juri@ 9, 19e? 4 Sheets-Sheet l W Y w N m S OOAE THLT N T A ENF-G WAE. HEZ PRE L A B w ALO RCR M m Awm vm June 30, 1970 Filed June 9, 1967 PIPE MACHINE R J. ANTHONY ET AI- 4 Sheets-,Sheet 2 RALPH J. ANTHONY CLARENCE E. LARsoN ROBERT H. GATE s AT RN R. J. ANTHONY PIPE MACHINE Filed June 9, 1967 ET AL 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 RAIL CARRIAGE CORE A POSITION TRAVERSE POSITION A LOW HIGH L C R UP DOWN I IIV I Il 111 I II 6|) 627 SET UP CONCRETE TAMPER FEEDER (POSITION) (PoslTloN) B PIPE PIPE DIAMETER DIAMETER 5B) 59) 60) TAMPER CONCRETE TURNTABLE FEEDER I I ACTION) I ACTION I ACT|ON I C ON OFF c/w OFF cc/W ON OFF OPERATE I 1I I II III I 1I jl INVENTORS RALPH J. ANTHoNY CLARENCE E. LARsoN BY ROBERT H. GATES June 30, 1970 Filed June 9, 1967 R. J. ANTHONY ET AL PIPE MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIG. 4

` INVENTORS RALPH J. ANTHONY CLARENCE E.. LRSON ROBERT .GATES lAT1' RN United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 25--31 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A machine for making articles, e.g. pipe, from plastic inorganic masses comprising, in combination, rails having carriages to transport molds, means at a forming statlon to compact the plastic inorganic masses in the molds and means to raise and lower the rails to permit placing and pickup of the molds at the forming station.

The present invention is concerned with a machine for forming objects from inorganic, plastic mixes and, more particularly, with a machine for making concrete pipe from plastic concrete mixes.

It is well known that inorganic plastic mixes such as clay, cements and, particularly, concrete containing portland cement, sand, aggregate and water can be compacted in molds to form various objects. Plastic concrete mixes are commonly compacted in molds into the form of green pipe. The green pipe is then stripped from the mold and allowed to cure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for forming objects from inorganic, plastic mixes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for forming objects, such as pipe, from plastic, concrete mixes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. l is a plan view of the machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a View in cross section of the machine of the present invention along the line 2 2;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing control means employed in the machine of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of mold transport means used in the present invention.

Generally speaking, the present invention contemplates a machine for forming objects from inorganic, plastic mixes which comprises, in combination, rail means extending laterally over at least a loading-unloading station and a forming station, transport means operable on said rail means to convey a form between said stations, elevator means operable to raise and lower said rail means, means to convey a plastic mix to said forming station and deposit said mix in said form, and means at said forming station to compact said mix in said form. Advantageously, the machine has separate loading and unloading stations, a centrally located turntable for rotating at least a portion of a concrete pipe form, hoist means positioned above the turntable adapted to raise and lower a core portion of a concrete pipe form and reciprocating tamping means for tamping a concrete mix deposited between the core and the outer-dening walls of the concrete pipe mold.

An advantageous embodiment of the machine of the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. Referring now thereto, in FIG. l three stations or areas I, II and III are depicted. Rails 11 extend laterally over these stations. As depicted in FIG. l, station III is intended as a loading station, station II is a forming station and station I is an unloading station. If so desired, station III can serve as both a loading and unloading station and all items to the left of the broken line delimiting station I can be disregarded. In like manner station I can serve as both a loading and unloading station. Rails 11 are supported on a plurality of elevator means 12 which, conveniently, can be hydraulic jacks acting in unison in response to pressure in hydraulic line 13. As depicted in FIG. 1 hydraulic line 13 leads to rail position control (described in relation to FIG. 3) and thence to a pressure source not illustrated. Advantageously, rails 11 have a load-bearing cap portion 14 and a relatively wide web 15. At least one pair of carriages 16 ride on rails 11, said carriages 16 being adapted to carry concrete pipe molds between the stations. A detailed illustration of the manner in which this is carried out is provided in FIG. 4. Advantageously, rails 11 carry an extra pair of carriages 16a. The advantages accruing from provision of both pairs of carriages 16 and 16a will be discussed in detail hereinafter. At station II an upright frame 17 straddles rails 11. Frame 17 comprises four uprights 18 and top 19. Motor mechanisms 20- and hoist 21 are positioned 0n top 19. Hoist 21 bears chain 22 which passes through top 19 by means of port 23. Chain 22 supports core yoke 24. The vertical motion of core yoke 24, provided by hoist 21 and chain 22, is guided by means of notched guide wheels 25 acting in contact with vertically extending tianges on uprights 18. Guide wheels 25 are attached to core yoke 24 by means of yoke ilanges 26. Core yoke 24 supports core pin 24a which in turn supports core 27. Two variations are possible at this point. Core pin 24a can support core 27 either xedly or rotatably depending upon the quality and/ or the character of the products to be produced by the machine.

Directly below, and concentric with core pin 24a, is positioned turntable 28 mounted on bearing 29 by means of pivot 30. If desired, auxiliary bearing ring 31 can also be used to support turntable 28. Motive power for turntable 28 is provided by motor 32, reversing gear 33, and gear Wheel 34, the latter acting in cooperation with ring gear 35 -xedly mounted on the underside of turntable 28. Turntable 28 has lugs 36 mounted on the upper surface thereof, to assist in the concentric positioning of a form mounted thereon.

Outboard of frame 17 and between uprights 18, on both sides of rails 11, are tamper support frames 37. Tamper motors 38 are mounted atop support frames 37 on tamper rails 39. KEach tamper motor 38 is connected to tamper shaft 40 by means of pulley-belt unit 41. On the inboard end of each of tamper shafts 40v is aiixed Wheel 42 having eccentric 43. Eccentric 43 provides reciprocating action for operation of conventional tamper units not illustrated. The tamper assemblies consisting of motors 38, shafts 40, wheels 42 and eccentrics 43 together with associated bearings, supports and the like (which are conventional and, for purposes of simplicity, are not illustrated) can be moved along tamper rails 39 to provide variable radial positioning of the tamper units with respect to the axis of rotation of turntable 28. In this way the tamper assemblies can accommodate various diameter pipe molds.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, concrete feed means 44 is positioned adjacent to forming station II. In essence, concrete feed means 44 comprises hopper 45 and gate 47. Concrete feed means 44 also includes conveyor 48 mounted in frame 49 by means of rollers 50 rotating on journalled shafts 51. Conveyor 48 is moved by means of motor 52 and pulley-belt drive 53. Frame 49 is positionally adjustable in the direction of its length by means not illustrated in order to accommodate various sizes of pipe molds.

Many variations in the construction of the machine depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 are permissible. For example, the hoist mechanism consisting of motor or motors and hoist 21 can be arranged such that chain or rope 22 is pluralized and is attached to yoke 24 at or near its lateral edges, said chain or rope 22 being suspended from top 19 at or near the lateral edges thereof by means of idler wheels not illustrated. Detents 54 can be provided at the ends of rails 11 to prevent carriages 16 or 16a from riding olf rails 11. Auxiliary tamping devices particularly adapted to more effectively tamp concrete or other plastic inorganic mixes when the mix nearly fills a mold can be provided. It is also possible to use only a single tamping assembly rather than the more advantageous double tamping assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The factors involved in the operation of the machine depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described hereinbefore are depicted in box diagram form in FIG. 3. Each of therein. Rotation of turntable 28 is stopped, then reversed, and then stopped again at the trouble spot. The tamper stick is then freed manually and production continues. For simplicity sake, operative connections between motors 20, 32, 38, 52, and carriage drive mechanism and the source of motive power and controls thereof have not been illustrated. It is to be understood, however, the conventional electrical supply lines can be used to provide the required power. Control of the power can be provided for manual operation by means of a central console or by means of individual controls spaced at any convenient location. If it is desired to automate the machine, central tape control is advantageous so long as means are provided to manually override the control mechanism in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

The stages of operation of the machine depicted in FIGS. l and 2, wherein two pairs of carriages 16 and 16a are employed, are set forth in numerical form (similar to the usage in Table I) in Table II.

TABLE II Stage Rail Carr. 1) Carr. (2) Core Tamp. Turn. C.F.

1 (Start) 2 3 1 2 2 2 Load Mold on Carriage 2 2 1 2 1 2 2 2 Set-up. 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 2 2 2 1 2 3 2 1 1 1 Operate. 1 2 3 2 2 1 2 3 1 2 2 2 2 1 2,2 Take-down.

Remove Mold 2 1 2 l 2 2 2 the factors rail position 55, carriage traverse 56, core position 57, tamper action 58, turntable 59 and concrete feeder action 60 involve at least a plurality of settings. In each box directly under the factor are indicated simplified settings. The settings for the factors, tamper position 61 and concrete feeder position 62, are indicated by the words pipe diameter because these settings are determined by the diameter of pipe being produced. The settings for the other six factors are self-explanatory except for carriage traverse (L=Left, C=Center, R=Right) and turntable (c/w=clockwise rotation, cc/w=counterclockwise rotation). Beneath each setting in FIG. 3 is indicated a numerical value in Roman numerals (used in the drawing to avoid confusion with reference numerals). These numerical values (translated into Arabic numerals) are used in Table I to show the interrelation of control settings used at various stages of the process of producing a green, molded concrete pipe on the machine of FIGS. l and 2 using only a single pair of carriages.

A comparison of Table I and Table II shows the advantage of employing dual pairs of carriages 16 and 16a. When dual carriages 16 and 16a are used, a second mold can be loaded while the first is being filled. Once the carriage pair transporting the full first mold has vacated the central forming station, the second mold is transported to the central forming station, deposited on the turntable and production can be resumed without waiting for the first full mold to be removed. The advantage of this system in eliminating non-productive time is obvious.

It is to be observed that in providing numerical values for the operational variables in FIG. 3 of the drawing and in Tables I and II, the operations have been simplified. In practice it is not uncommon to combine operations and to provide for variable rates of operation. Accordingly, the example of operation of the machine of the present invention, as presented by a combination of FIG. 3 of the drawing and Tables I and II, is intended merely TABLE I Stage Rail Carr. Core Tamp. Turn. C.F.

l (Start) 2 3 2 2 2 Load Mold 2 2 1 2 2 2 Set-up. 1 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 Operate. 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 Take-down.

Remove Mold 2 3 1 2 2 2 Table I shows that the operation of the machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be broken down into a number of specific stages which readily adapt operation to tape other automatic control. The steps interposed between the two stages No. 6 indicate the action to be taken when and if a tamper stick (a conventional part of the tamper unit not illustrated in the drawings) tangles in the pipe mold particularly with reinforcing wires or cages placed as illustrative rather than definitive of practical operations.

Molds have not been illustrated in FIGS. 1' and 2 since they are conventional items which vary in shape and size depending upon the exact form required in the pipe or other structure. FIG. 4 has been provided to show details with respect to electrically driven carriages and a mold form positioned thereon. Referring now thereto, carriage pair 16 ride on rails 11 with drive wheels 63 acting against cap portion 14 of rails 11. Drive wheels 63 are driven by electric motor 64 acting through gear train 65. Idlers 66 and 67 having axles 68 and 69 mounted in carriage frame 70 bear against the underside of rail cap portion 14. That portion of the mold which defines essentially the outer surface of a concrete pipe (outer mold) 71 is carried on the upper platform surface 72 of carriages 16 by means of form lugs 73. Usually outer mold 71 is a split form held together by removable or releasable clamps 74. Inside outer mold 71 and substantially concentric thereto is reinforcing cage 75 supported by pallet 76 or otherwise, Reinforcing cage 7S usually constitutes a steel mesh through which and around which concrete can be compacted. It is reinforcing cage 75 which sometimes interferes with tamping action and which necessitates the corrective measures discussed hereinbefore.

The power supply linkage for carriages 16 is illustrated in FIG. 4 as a spring-biased coiled conductor 77 in housing 78 attached to carriage frame 70. Conductor 77 is affixed at one end to rotatable connector 79 and from thence through line 80 to motor 64. The other end of con ductor 77 passes through a port in housing 78 and is connected at contact point 81 to line 82 leading to a source of power controlled by carriage traverse control 56. Since both of the pair of carriages 16 must act in unison, both are in electrical connection with line 82.

Although carriages 16 have been indicated as electrically driven for the purpose of describing their function, it is understood they may be powered by other mechanical, air, or hydraulic means. Further, they have in this instance been described in their function for the transport of pipe forms and pipe forms filled with plastic inorganic mixes; however, it is not intended their function be limited to this usage.

Although the present invention has been described, particularly `with respect to the formation of circularly cylindrical objects such as pipes, it is within the contemplation of the invention to provide a machine capable of producing and transporting other types of objects. For example, by guiding the positions of concrete feed means 44 and the tamper assemblies by cam action based on rotation of turntable 28, hollow forms such as oval cylinders or cylinders of square or rectangular cross section can be produced. Broadly, the machine of the present invention can be used to produce and transport any shape which can be found using compacted, inorganic plastic mixes.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with advantageous embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Such modiiications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A machine for forming pipe from plastic, concrete mixes comprising, in combination, rail means extending laterally over at least a loading-unloading station and a forming station, transport means operable on said rail means to convey the exterior defining portion of a concrete pipe form between said stations, a turntable at said forming station comprising the bottom of said forming station, mechanical means for raising and lowering a concrete-pipe-mold core over said turntable, elevator means to raise and lower said rail means, means to convey a plastic, concrete mix to said forming station and to deposit said plastic mix in the space between said core and said exterior defining portion of said concrete-pipe form when said core and said exterior defining portion are concentrically nested and contact impact means at said forming station to compact said plastic mix in said space while said plastic mix is being deposited in said space.

2. A machne as in claim 1 wherein the transport means comprises a pair of power operated carriages.

3. A machine as in claim 1 wherein the transport means comprises two pairs of power operated carriages.

4. A machine as in claim 1 having means to rotate the turntable in either direction on its axis.

5. A machine for forming pipe from plastic, concrete mixes comprising, in combination, a pair of separated, parallel rails extending laterally over at least a loadingunloading station and a forming station, at least one pair of power operated carriages, each one of said pair mounted upon each one of said rails, means to activate each pair of said carriages to shuttle in unison on said rails and transport an exterior defining portion of a concrete pipe form between said stations, a rotatable turntable on a vertical axis at said forming station comprising the bottom of said forming station, means to activate the rotation of said turntable on said axis in either direction, a hoist mounted on a hoist frame for raising and lowering a concrete-pipe-rnold core over said turntable, means to activate said hoist, a plurality of hydraulic jacks supporting said Irails actuable to raise and lower said rails in unison, means to activate said hydraulic jacks, a conveyor extending from a source of plastic concrete mix to said forming station and adapted to deposit said plastic concrete mix in the space between said core and said exterior defining portion of said concrete pipe form when said core and said exterior defining portion are concentrically nested at said forming station, means to activate said conveyor, two Compactors each mounted on an opposite side of said hoist frame adapted to compact said plastic mix in said space while said plastic concrete mix is being deposited in said space by tamping and control means t0 coordinate said plurality of activating means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,234,601 2/1966 Hatch et al. 164-196 X 1,359,543 ll/1920 Smith 25--37 I. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner M. O. SUTTON, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 25-37; 249--144 LTION R. J. Anthony zt al Inventor(s) --macline-n Cclumn 6,

Signed and sealed i (SEAL) A L DENI; rmlssioner of Patents BS N ng Officer USCOMM- :Tf 

